Dan Shakespeare

Dan Shakespeare, 74, of Fairfax, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Visitation will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Following the visitation, the family will host a Celebration of Life starting at 5:30 p.m. at Nick’s Bar & Grill, 4958 Johnson Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids. Inurnment will be held at Fairfax Cemetery, Fairfax, at a later date.

Dan was born December 7, 1951, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Harold “Wig” and Theresa (Naaktgeboren) Shakespeare. He graduated from Prairie High School with the Class of 1970 and went on to attend the University of Iowa. He later completed paramedic training at Kirkwood Community College. Dan married Laura “Lori” Louise Witte on March 3, 2012, at their home in Fairfax. He began his career with Area Ambulance and volunteered with the Fairfax Fire Department before joining the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, where he served for 22 years before retiring. Dan also owned and operated Shakespeare Plumbing.

Survivors include his wife, Lori Shakespeare of Fairfax; his children, Laura (Elliot) Donahue and Elizabeth Shakespeare (Dan Suarez), both of Chicago; his stepchildren, Audrey (Reese) Thompson of Marion, Iowa, and Austin Witte of Fairfax; his grandchildren, Piper Donahue and another grandchild on the way, William and Nora Suarez, Larkin, Logyn, Bowen, and Barrett Thompson; his siblings, Tim (Nancy) Shakespeare of Walford, Iowa, Nancy (Clint) Chaffee of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Sandi Forney of Gilbert, Arizona; his beloved animals; and his many great friends at Nick’s Bar & Grill.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Jeff Forney.